i had an exhaust leak, and it made a ticking noise that sounds basically like what im hearing now. it has been like that for a while. i fixed the leak at the header collector where it was blown out, then started my car and still heard it.

then i backed off my timing a bit, i have to check it all the time because i can't get the bolt tightened enough to where it doesnt spin out of time after a few days. my summit timing light broke on me a few weeks ago, and im waiting on them to send me a new one, so i've been doing it basically by ear. after i retarded the timing, it started running a lot better and the tick got a lot quieter but was still there.

i've been driving it a few days since then, today leaving work its all loud again so i pull over and retard the timing again. its really starting to worry me, but i hate to pay a shop to tell me whats wrong. when i was setting my timing i revved the engine a bit, and a little bit of smoke comes from my passenger side head. this is the side the exhaust leak is on, and my header is also missinga couple bolts where it bolts to the engine. its such a pita to get to them i just left em. i've also noticed lately that for a second after startup (only a second, 2 seconds tops) smoke comes out of the exhaust. does this sound like regular valve tick, or can just the timing being way off, and an exhaust leak cause this? how can i go about checking things out and narrowing down possibilities here?

appreciate any help, this sucks because i have to drive to work everyday in it.

 

Could very well be warped header flange from the missing bolts.

A shop shouldnt charge you anything to use a timing light for 30 seconds.

 

but what about the smoke?

 

bump

you guys are killin me

 

little bit of smoke isn't abnormal with old cars.
the valve seals wear down let a little oil drip into the combustion chamber. shouldn't cause any major problems.


when you said you started the car and noticed smoke comming from the passanger side head where at does it come from? I'm going to assume between the manifold and the head. which if that is the case sounds like an exhuast leak. fix the bolts make sure the flange isn't warped and you should have the noise gone.

btw you might want to put your timing back to where it was